By Edie Melson

Getting blog posts found has always been a struggle and has evolved through black-hat keywording, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and now we have to content with Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) also sometimes called Answer Engine Optimization (AEO). Both of these last two—GEO and AEO—deal specifically with how to get our sites found through an  Artificial Intelligence (AI) search. For years I’ve been known as an SEO expert. Now, the majority of queries for information come through an AI program. So—in a lot of ways—it feels like we’re back to square one. Optimizing for AI may feel like stepping into an entirely new country, but it’s not.

We’re going to go through the process comparing SEO to AI, but the biggest takeaway from this chapter needs to be how to optimize your site for AI.

SEO Optimization

I used to explain SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and how to use keywords effectively by using an imaginary businessman. His name is Joe, and he’s a plumber.

He’s a smart business owner and began his company back in the early 1990s. He named his business, ABC Plumbing. He chose carefully because with that name, he had a good chance of being the first listing in the phone directory under plumbers. That was thirty years ago and that ad in the telephone directory kept him supplied with customers, in addition to making him visible around the community. But as time went by, fewer people looked in the telephone directory when they needed a plumber. Instead they looked online.

Well, Joe is a with-it sort of guy, and he had a website built in the early 2000s. It wasn’t fancy, but it did the job, just like the old ad in the directory. Actually the two looked a lot alike. But even with that, Joe’s traffic and customer base diminished. This decline was because when someone searched on the Internet for a plumber in his area, his website didn’t come up first. In fact, it didn’t come up until page three of the search.

Information on the Internet isn’t categorized alphabetically.

After some research, Joe found he needed to add some information to his site to come up higher in the search engine. That was when Joe came face-to-face with the new acronym SEO. Search Engine Optimization became his key to getting the name out about his business. So he started a blog and began tweaking the information on his site. But all this digital work began to eat into the time he spent running the plumbing side of the business.

At this point, the light bulb came on. Joe realized he was a plumber, not a writer. And this is where we come in. We can provide valuable services to businesses small and large. We can do what we do best—write—while allowing them to get on with business.

All good stuff, but does any of this have anything to do with AI optimization?

AI Optimization

Absolutely, to discover how to use AEO, let’s go back and look at Joe the plumber. Joe did everything right. He learned SEO. He added keywords. He started a blog. His website finally began showing up in search results. But then something changed. Instead of typing, “plumber near me,” people started asking questions like:

• “Why is my sink backing up?”
• “What causes low water pressure?”
• “How do I fix a leaking pipe under my sink?”

And instead of clicking through ten different websites, they began reading a single answer—right at the top of the page. Sometimes they didn’t even click a link at all.

That’s because AI stepped in. Search engines are no longer just finding information.
They’re interpreting it, summarizing it, and presenting it directly to the reader. And that means we, as writers, need to adjust how we present and organize the information we’re sharing.

So, in a nutshell, optimizing for AI is the process of writing content that is easy for artificial intelligence tools to:

• Understand
• Summarize
• Quote
• Recommend

Think of it this way: SEO helps your content get found. AI optimization helps your content get chosen. That’s a critically important distinction. Now, instead of competing for a click, we’re competing to be the source of the answer.

How AI “Reads” Your Content

Unlike early search engines that relied heavily on keywords, AI tools read more like people do.

They look for:

• Clear meaning
• Context
• Structure
• Authority
• Relevance

They’re asking:

• Does this answer the question clearly?
• Is this trustworthy?
• Is this easy to understand?

And here’s the good news, as writers, this plays directly into our strengths.

The Foundation of AI-Friendly Writing

We don’t need to be a tech expert to write for AI visibility. We simply write more intentionally.

Here are the core principles:

1. Write to Answer Real Questions. Remember Joe’s customers? Their main search isn’t to find a plumber, it’s to find an answer to specific plumbing questions. Then, if the answer is too technical they will search for the plumber. Your readers are doing the same thing. Instead of writing broad topics like Blogging Tips. We write to answer the question, “How do I start a blog that people actually read?” Further more, the more your title and content match the way people naturally ask questions, the more likely AI will use your content as an answer.
2. Be Clear More Than Clever. Just like with SEO, clever titles can hurt discoverability in an AI search. AI tools don’t interpret humor, puns, or vague language well. For example:
3. When Words Won’t Come (clever—but unclear)
4. How to Overcome Writer’s Block and Start Writing Again (clear and searchable)

You can still be creative—but clarity must come first.

• Structure Your Content for Easy Understanding. AI favors content that is easy to scan and organize. So we follow these tips:
• Use headings and subheadings
• Break content into short paragraphs
• Use bullet points and numbered lists
• Keep sentences focused and readable

If a human reader can quickly find the answer, AI can too.

• Lead with the Answer. This is one of the biggest shifts.Don’t make readers (or AI) dig for your point.Instead of building slowly to your answer, give it early. For example:
• Question: How do I stay focused when writing?
  Answer: The most effective way to stay focused when writing is to practice single-tasking—eliminating distractions and giving your full attention to one project at a time.

Then expand from there. This increases the likelihood your content will be quoted or summarized.

• Write with Authority and Authenticity. AI doesn’t just look for information—it looks for credible information. That means:
• Speak from experience
• Be specific
• Avoid fluff
• Provide meaningful insight

You don’t have to sound academic—but you do need to sound trustworthy.

I’ve been blogging on The Write Conversation since December of 2008. I've watched blogging evolve in every way I thought possible—and then AI (Artificial Intelligence) came on the scene. At first I was hesitant—using AI felt like cheating. However, I've come to realize I can use it just like I would a virtual assistant. It can help with the repetitive drudgery and with brain storming. Like any new tool, AI can be used to help us or hurt us. Learning about Artificial Intelligence is the best way to evaluate where it will help your blogging efforts. 

Edie’s updated bio:

Edie uses the truths God has taught her as an author, photographer, and blogger to encourage others. As a sought-after speaker, she’s empowered and challenged audiences across the country and around the world. Her blog, The Write Conversation, reaches thousands and has been on the Writer’s Digest Top 101 Sites for Writers since 2017.

As a blogging expert, she’s worked with clients who range from authors and speakers to business and ministry leaders. Her award-winning book for writers has been re-released as Blogging for Today’s Writers 2^nd Edition. She’s also the executive director of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference and board member of the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association.

Connect with her on her website, www.EdieMelson.com and through social media.

Header image from deposit photo